Post by: jwrape on April 15, 2011, 02:28:59 pm
Here it is:
Not too bad for $400. needs a little work since it's been sitting since 2006. The guy said he had a shade tree mechanic work on it and it stopped running
Post by: Donster on April 15, 2011, 02:41:14 pm
If you need any help with the restore, just post it here - plent of Fiero experts an people willing to help
How's the interior on it?
\D
Post by: RobsFieros on April 15, 2011, 04:13:43 pm
Post by: meatloafsandwich on April 16, 2011, 12:19:40 am
Gonna snap a few "now" shots this weekendenjoy your ride!
Post by: jwrape on April 16, 2011, 06:33:41 am
My interior doesn't need to much.
The main thing is that I have small wiring issues, mainly fusable links at the starter are blown and there are two sensors wired crazy with couplers instead of soldiered and shrink wrapped properly.
I plan to try to find a 85 GT nose if possible and I want either no spoiler or that nice whale tail spoiler like this one
When I bought the car from this older guy, he said his son drove it till 06' after a Shade Tree Mechanic worked on it and it stopped running.
Post by: jwrape on April 16, 2011, 06:39:14 am
I also found that one of the reasons it wouldn't run well, the reason for the shade tree mechanic, was that the plug had rusted in half and I found this plug hanging in the end of the wire laying on the front of the motor.
It should be interesting to drill out the rest of the broken plug and ALSO see if the other plugs will come out in one piece. I pray.
Post by: jwrape on April 16, 2011, 06:46:53 am
I think the first things I will focus on are getting it running then i will do the Grand Am brake conversion.
Post by: Fierofool on April 16, 2011, 08:36:08 am
The 84 had a gold nose badge rather than silver, and the rear deck lid had the grill in the center and didn't have the hump. The decklid you have didn't appear until 85. Have you done a CarFAx on the VIN?
Given your abilities, Just go ahead and drop in a 3.4 and be rid of all the problems that came with it.
Post by: jwrape on April 16, 2011, 08:42:55 am
My normal DD is a 05' G35 coupe but it only gets 20mpg and with prices so high lately. I hate throwing my parts money into my gas tank, and it keeps my mind working on something entertaining.
trust me, I will get around to the 3800sc swap soon. It may be this Fiero or it may be another.
My uncle has a 88 GT with leather and all the extras that he slightly wrecked and twisted the body. It's all in good shape with no visual damage but it twisted the sunroof out and has been sitting for about 6-7 years. I might get that one from him. I have always liked it, but it needs the body fixed and I'm not sure that's even possible with these things.
Post by: jwrape on April 16, 2011, 08:50:19 am
That's a nice find, Jason. It may be a little better find than you think. Even though the interior looks to be 84, the nose badge says 85 or later and so does the rear deck lid.
The 84 had a gold nose badge rather than silver, and the rear deck lid had the grill in the center and didn't have the hump. The decklid you have didn't appear until 85. Have you done a CarFAx on the VIN?
Given your abilities, Just go ahead and drop in a 3.4 and be rid of all the problems that came with it.
What's better between a 84' and 85'?
It very well could be a 85', I really didn't look at the title, I just took his word for it. He might have been incorrect. The car belonged to his son and he had repo'd it from him for some money his son owned him and then parked it in a barn for most of the sitting time and then eventually puled it out into the yard to sell.
Post by: Fierofool on April 16, 2011, 09:12:50 am
The wiring system was much better on the 85's and easier to do a conversion. You also mentioned that the harness attached between the battery and passenger shock tower. The 84 attached to the back of the passenger compartment. The 84 also had glass quarter windows. Later years were plastic.
The 84 had some features of the electrical system that were common only to it. It had a 2 speed cooling fan identified by a 3 wire harness, the AC system was different, I believe the wiper system was different, and there were some other differences.
Post by: jwrape on April 16, 2011, 09:16:49 am
Wow! And that was all off the top of your head.... That's a mouth full. ;D
It does have the two tone interior but it also has the stretchy map pocket although I just bought the newer pocket to replace the stretched out pocket. It almost sounds like I'm kinda between a 84 and a 85. Who knows. I need to look at the title again.
The title is out in my G35, i will look at it at lunch and see what year the title says.
Post by: jwrape on April 16, 2011, 09:18:38 am
Post by: Fierofool on April 16, 2011, 09:25:09 am
Post by: TopNotch on April 16, 2011, 09:29:09 am
http://gafiero.org/vin.shtml (http://gafiero.org/vin.shtml)
Post by: jwrape on April 16, 2011, 09:29:44 am
It could be that you've got a hybrid. 84 and 85 had the speakers in the headrest. So, the passenger seat has been swapped out. It could be that other parts have been swapped out, too. That's one of the nice things about Fieros.
Oh yea, that's exactly what I love about the car. The parts are cheap to mod the car, you can build ANYTHING out of it and you can also build a lot of custom things yourself if you have the know how. It's light, nimble and fun to drive and just all around a cool little car. The ONLY thing I don't like is sitting so close to the ground when a Semi get near ya. The Fiero and any occupants don't stand a chance, but I stay away from those even now in my G35. It's not much larger than the Fiero. ;D
Post by: jwrape on April 16, 2011, 09:32:37 am
Post by: TopNotch on April 16, 2011, 09:40:44 am
Post by: jwrape on April 16, 2011, 09:42:17 am
If you have the VIN number, run it though this VIN decoder:
http://gafiero.org/vin.shtml (http://gafiero.org/vin.shtml)
Ok you sparked my interest and I went down to my G and got the title.
Turns out, it's not a 84' or 85', it's a 86.... Wow, I was really off.
What does this mean. Were they better?
The VIN Decoder says Fiero Sport 2.5Liter L4 EFI, GM RPO LR8, Production number 226167 out of Pontiac, MI
Post by: jwrape on April 16, 2011, 09:47:48 am
Accelerate Motion has a cam they refer to as the "RV cam", which they say gives a bit more low-end torque, which is what you would want in a jeep. They don't recommend it for Fieros, but they do have cams for Fiero dukes also. I'm rebuilding a duke now, and I have an Accelerated Motion cam for it. I'm also putting on BBC roller rockers, which will result in less valve train friction -- important when you increase the lift.
Kinda what I figured on that one. I will keep it for the next Duke Jeep I get. ;D
How much was the Accelerate Motion Performance Cam and the roller rockers? I kinda want to get all I can out of the lil' Duke. Especially since it has on 113k miles on it. It's just broken in. My Jeep had over 200k on it and used a little oil but ran great. I actually like it after I put the 6 cyl 258 throttle body on it and it finally could breathe. It made a huge difference in it's power.
I saw that Holley is the only one for the Fiero and they are hard to come by.
Post by: Fierofool on April 16, 2011, 09:59:40 am
Mercury Marine used the GM 4 cylinders in their stern drive systems throughout the 80's and 90's. The cam is different, in that it's designed to run at high rpm and under constant load. Using one of those engines and changing out the cam and the bolt-on stuff might give you a little better 4-banger.
I have a Yamaha-outfitted inboard that uses the GM 4.3. When I replaced the engine, the marine dealers wanted over 3,000 for a long block because it was a 'special marine engine'. I compared Yamaha and GM specs and found them to be the same, so I bought a rebuilt 4.3 for about $700. I just swapped in my marine cam, installed the engine and went skiing.
I just saw your post that you've got an 86. The engine was improved as far as the strength of the internals. It is a better engine than the 84. TopNotch is working on an 88, which was the better engine of all the Fiero 4's.
Post by: TopNotch on April 16, 2011, 10:02:43 am
You will have to drill and tap your head to install them. That's best done with a drill press, where you can keep the drilling straight.
Post by: jwrape on April 16, 2011, 10:04:19 am
Post by: TopNotch on April 16, 2011, 10:06:34 am
Post by: jwrape on April 16, 2011, 10:13:05 am
BTW, since the roller rockers are sold in a set for a V8, and I'm only going to use half the set, I have the other half that I won't use.
Yea, i am interested. I'm not totally ready for them yet. I gotta get the ol' girl running. I would like to know what you want for them if you would PM me.
I assume you have to tap and drill the head for the new studs right?
Post by: TopNotch on April 16, 2011, 10:39:01 am
I assume you have to tap and drill the head for the new studs right?
Yes, the BBC studs are 7/16, and the Fiero studs are 8mm. If you use cutting oil while drilling, it keeps the filings from going everywhere, and afterwards, you can pick them off with a magnet.
Post by: jwrape on April 16, 2011, 10:41:15 am
I assume you have to tap and drill the head for the new studs right?
Yes, the BBC studs are 7/16, and the Fiero studs are 8mm. If you use cutting oil while drilling, it keeps the filings from going everywhere, and afterwards, you can pick them off with a magnet.
Sounds easy enough.
Post by: jwrape on April 17, 2011, 12:16:06 pm
I took tons of pics and will start a project thread and post them. I guess about 20 pics for everything last night. Should be a good project thread start.
Post by: Tha Driver on April 17, 2011, 12:32:35 pm
~ Paul
aka "Tha Driver"
Post by: TopNotch on April 17, 2011, 01:13:36 pm
Post by: Fierofool on April 17, 2011, 01:27:25 pm
Post by: jwrape on April 19, 2011, 10:46:37 am
Here is my re-build thread
http://gafieroclub.org/bbs/index.php?topic=744.0 (http://gafieroclub.org/bbs/index.php?topic=744.0)
I took over 60 pics this weekend showing what I was doing to the ol' girl.
Post by: oldone on April 21, 2011, 10:45:35 pm
Post by: Donster on April 22, 2011, 03:57:41 am
theres a "84" there not to much to get, it does have a brand new spare tire in it looks like it's never been on the ground. both the "84" and the "87 coupe have good body panels and bumpers all the way around. there also at the yard was a console with door complete just setting in the "87 coupe".
Did they still have trim on them?
\D
Post by: oldone on April 22, 2011, 09:25:14 am
Post by: oldone on April 22, 2011, 04:20:28 pm